Excellent quote. I feel this way. I really do not give a rip about the things of the world (commentary below not mine - but fine commentary it is, nevertheless....):
In "Follow the Light of Christ into His Presence" there's a quote:
"The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is so profound that it literally propels those who receive it into a different world. Their thoughts become the mirror of their righteous desires. Their worldly possessions become a temporary collection of 'things'...Their eyes focus on the heavens, and the world,with all its boisterous and hollow pleasures, fades into the background. They begin to view this life as temporary, and everything in it of worth only to the extent that is promotes eternal goals. Their former goals, ambitions, hobbies, and delights lose their allure. They look upon their former entertainments as kindergarten toys of little value."
I feel this...like I am in a different world. I see that a lot of things don't have value. In general I feel a lot of peace and I really don't worry about what others are doing or buying or enjoying but I am having a lot of anxiety about my ward. I have wonderful, good people in my ward but I feel we are focused on the wrong things. We have sugardoodl-ed and pinterest-ed the gospel to whole new levels. It is hard for me in my primary calling to strike a balance between what activities they want to do and what I feel is needed and appropriate. I feel anxious about what is coming and how we are not preparing spiritually as a ward. We want fun and happiness at the expense of teaching gospel truths. HOW ARE YOU ALL ACHIEVING BALANCE between not judging but voicing what you know to be true? How do you try to get people to elevate their level of spiritual preparedness without offending or being disagreeable? I have been one that has generally gone with the flow but I feel so passionate about the need to focus and simplify our effort especially with concern to teaching the gospel to our children and youth.
I came to know to some degree John Pontius through the internet and through phone calls to him personally. I could not put down his book, "The Triumph of Zion". Truly he was a heavenly inspired man when he wrote that. I miss him so. I use the meetings at church that I am in to make comments that, without passing judgment on anyone, that are lesson appropriate to state what God has given me to say. In fast and testimony meetings God has inspired me to bear my witness of some of the things that I have posted here and other places.
ReplyDeleteI think you hit the nail on the head with teaching the gospel to our children. Our thoughts are identical to yours on our focus and lack if interest in the things of the world. Yet we feel so outnumbered in our thinking, concern, and purpose. We too are concerned in general about others (in our ward and families) and where the focus and importance lies but really all we can do is be an example and take action where we have stewardship, which is over our own families. It would be nice to meet other like minded families. Our kids have similar thoughts and feelings as well. They wonder why other kids their age don't care about these things and are only into video games, texting, Facebook, which we are not into at all. Time to wake up!
ReplyDeleteSillyschmidts Schmidt
DeleteI was beginning to think our family was the only ones... thanks for sharing your story! My family and I are moving further away from the world as other saints move further into Babylon. The Lord will prepare the remnant for the New Jerusalem. Be that zion family as we will strive to be it also.
A thought on this topic that I thought would be interesting to hear your thoughts on: How do families who are not in the mindset of most of the world still logistically function? I think as a family and as individuals we struggle with this. We are not really "attached" to stuff, or places because they are not forever. On the other hand we are to eachother because we know that our relationships ARE forever. I feel grateful that my children have learned that at such young ages. However now we still have to deal with the realities of life while here. For instance, we do need some "stuff" to live, we do have temporary homes here...So I guess what I'd like your thoughts on is: How do we go on living with a Zion mindset in a not yet Zion world? I'm curious if or how others have dealt with this in their families. Thank you in advance.
DeleteI am at this same place with my ward, friends, neighbors, co-workers, associates and to some extend, my spouse. Our level of communications is so low as to be concerned with things that will shortly be taken away and then what will we do. Tying to elevate to topics of most value to our spiritual well being has become frustrating these past few years. Most cannot let go of the judgement and condescending discussions, which make me very sad. There are a few who are awake at various levels and give me hope. It is evident that the Lord's Spirit has ceased to strive with men/women and we are quickly spiraling downward to destruction...for great judgements are before us.
ReplyDeleteWho did you quote above?
As I see it, you only have so much power for input and being an example to your ward. Others have to feel to the extent you do for change to occur.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, continue within the walls of your own home, where you have stewardship and power to teach, admonish, and make course corrections that will enable you to make your home as tight as an ark with the Lord's tender watch care.
Oh, and it's really really awesome to know that there are others out there like you who just want to be close to God and leave Babylon behind. God bless you now and always.
I was just hearing the exact same things from my wife who was talking about helping with our ward's Christmas party, which has little focus on the Savior. It just makes me sad because we feel so alone in our way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteI recently went through a temple session and have been very focused on the command to live the law of consecration. I have been studying the law from many different lds sources and I long to be in Zion with other like-minded people.
My wife and I are still under 35 with young children. It seems that all around us the young couples are interested in buying new bigger homes, cars, and the latest gadgets, clothes, etc. We no longer watch tv or use social media which again means we have little in common with our fellow man.
I find so much comfort from reading your blog and thank God for your dedication and work to write it. I often joke with my wife that we should move into an Amish community to be able to live more of the life we want. It's so hard to try to continue thinking and believing the way we do when there seems to be less and less of those that share our desires.
Love the quote, but who said it?
ReplyDeleteI am crafty, and I love to save ideas on Pinterest to keep my inner packrat at bay! But I agree that the outward things can cease to augment our lessons and become distractions instead of teaching tools. A basic example is primary. I remember an object lesson that got me so fired up about the scriptures that I went home and started reading them voraciously at the age of 10 or 11. How I needed this at that age! But it was something so simple that the teacher did.....brought a flashlight and a grocery bag. He took apart the flashlight and asked if we could put it back together and make it work. We took turns doing it. Then he asked whether if all the pieces were placed in the bag and we were to shake it....how likely was the flashlight to eventually end up being put together so that it would work? Batteries in the right direction, top screwed on, switch flipped on.....you get the gist! We decided most likely never, basically one in a million or more years, if ever. Then he asked what are the chances that life could form randomly, such intricate processes and amazing beauty as we have on this earth, if something so simple as a bunch of flashlight pieces would be so hard? He forever impressed this mind, even though I had no little handout, treat, or cutesie craft to make! We need to study and pray as we prepare our lessons. Trust that the Spirit will guide you to touch this group of God's children the way that THEY need to be touched right now. Sometimes that special inspiration doesn't come until the moment we bear our testimonies, and the Spirit flows into the room unhindered. I have spent the majority of my adult years in the most important place: teaching our youth! I have been in primary, not with Young Women yet. Some feel sorry for me, but I feel it a privilege. I had a CTR 4/5 class for over 4 years, and it was amazing. Their energy and excitement has to be channeled, but it was pretty simple. They love the same basic games and routine. Two things I loved doing with them stand out: Before we started our lesson, I would give each one of them a turn to talk about themselves, usually prompted by a question (ie., what is your favorite animal, or tell me what you did outside this week). This helps them to get out some of that selfish focus and energy that they are so full of at that age. I required them to listen to each other with respect and not interrupt one another. Each child felt important and loved. Then I would demand that same respect for me as we had the lesson. I kept it around 10 minutes for the discussion and my testimony, as their attention spans are so small at this age! Sometimes I found that they listened better if their bodies were busy with coloring or drawing during the lesson. I wanted them to partake not of junk food, but to be impressed with the nourishing stories and feelings that will form the foundation of their testimonies. I wanted them to look forward to coming to church, and to feel loved. Aren't those the most important things? One day, early in those 4 years, I was struggling to keep the children's attention during a lesson. I was inspired to sit down on the floor and whisper. I asked them to come sit in front of me, that I had a secret to tell them. They immediately refocused and responded. I told them that Jesus wanted to be there today, to teach them special things. Would they like that? would they listen to Him? Yes. Well, He can't do that because there are so many primary classes in so many different places in the world, and He has a body. He can't be in all those places at the same time. So guess what? He asked ME to teach you those things! So you need to listen and help during the lesson so you can learn the things that Jesus wants you to know! I would proceed to finish the lesson with the children on the floor at my feet.
ReplyDelete....continued......Sometimes a parent or primary worker would look in on us at these times and probably wonder why I didn't conduct a more formal classroom. But they were learning and loving coming to church for the right reasons. Could I have done more cutesie crafts and take-home items? Yes, but I was working 2 jobs and trying to meet the need of my large family. It was not THAT important. We need to seek out guidance from the spirit and invite people to truly get their hearts active and involved in the gospel. Now that we have moved to Utah, we are struggling with some of the teachers in Gospel Doctrine class who feel they need to "get through the whole lesson". In doing this, they rush through and don't invite the class members to participate. When questions are asked, it's dead....like we are all asleep or in shock that he/she wanted participation. As teachers, we should remember that we are to LEAD the discussion, not get up there and teach it all! The very best teachers will invite and make people feel comfortable in sharing their insights. The teacher "drives the bus", so to speak, steering it in the right direction, and the class member provide the energy (like the Flintstones' cars, haha!) It's a frustrating feeling to find yourself more spiritually edified by talking to fellow members in the hallway than by attending Gospel Doctrine. Sorry this is so long....it's just that we, like the Jews of Christ's time, may be "missing the mark" and find that we have missed Him while supposedly searching for Him, all because we were focusing on the wrong things! Robin
ReplyDeleteMark G, It was John Pontius in His Book, Following the Light of Christ Into His Presence, which, by the way, is one of the best books I've ever read.
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